HOW MUCH?

Followers of the Grand Designs programme will know that all schemes are over budget and late, but it's worth it in the name of art, or even worse, getting what you want. So I had better stick my figures to the mast. The budget is £**,*** (Suki has removed this information) and the finishing date is - well probably never - but I hope we will be comfortably inside for summer 2011. This is a Modest Design.

God is in control. This was clarified by snow after the global warming conference - look on my works ye mighty and despair! It was an angry sea today, cold wet and windy, after a beautiful calm and sunny yesterday. The lorries are carrying the shingle back up The Channel and the vast bulldozer is spreading it around - I want that job. I think the weather is going to play a bigger part in my scheme than I anticipated.

Suki will be coming down tomorrow to decide which books to part from forever. Then I shall be in a position to have all our stuff taken off to store. Yesterday I was smashing up the concrete around the drains which left me all shook up this morning. An earthquake would be of some assistance at this stage.

WHY ?

1. Because I am fed up with the old bungalow which is made of 2b2, asbestos cement and corrugated iron. The new bungalow will be snug and have sea views.

2. I'm 51 and I need a challenge.

3. I like doing this sort of thing.

4. What else am I going to leave behind me which is permanent (subject to sea level rise)?

5. Tax avoidance (not evasion!).

6. I'm hoping to create asset value (subject to sea level rise).

7. Why blog it? - so that if I fail, I can provide maximum enjoyment to my friends!